About William Fullerton

William Fullerton was born abt. 1742 in Pennsylvania, the son of William Fullerton and Margaret Robb. He married Mary Skellman on 21 July 1766 in Pennsylvania [Pennsylvania, Marriage Records, 1700-1821] and then migrated to an area in Augusta County that later became Greenbrier County around Sinking or Muddy Creek. To say that William Fullerton was a litigious person would be quite an understatement, as he was involved in numerous lawsuits that are in the Greenbrier County Court records for several years, many of which were with the McClung family from nearby Muddy Creek.

Records in Greenbrier County, VA

Came the parties by their attorneys and thereupon came also a Jury to wit: James Byrnside, Patrick Lockhart, David May, Levi Lockhart, William Clendenin, Robert Clendenin, Spencer Cooper, Thomas Edgar, Ward George, Andrew Hamilton and Christopher Brian, who being sworn well and Freely to inquire of damages in this suit upon their oaths do say that the plaintiff hath sustained damages by occasion of the defendants breach of the promise and assumption in the declaration mentioned specified to Two pounds six shillings and three pence besides his costs by him about his suit in this behalf expended. Whereupon the defendant and with the Court oughtnot to proceed to Judgement on the verdict aforesaid for the following reasons and because the Court will advise thereupon day is given the parties aforesaid here until the next Court. [Note: written on left margin: "No errors filed"]

Ordered that Thomas McClung be fined Ten Shillings for swearing profainly two oaths in Court and William McClung acknowledged himself security for the payment thereof at Laying of the next County Levy.

1 May 1782 - Greenbrier Court Orders - William Fullerton, Plaintiff Agst. Thomas McClung, Defendant. In Case, Joseph McClung comes into Court and undertakes for the Defendant that in Case he shall be cast in this suit he shall satisfy and pay the consideration of the Court or render his body to Prison in execution for the same, or that he the said Joseph will do it for him. [Greenbrier County Order Books, Vol A-C, 1780-1797, Ancestry.com]

22 August 1782 - Greenbrier Court Orders - William Fullerton, Plaintiff Agst. Thomas McClung, Defendant; In Case. On the motion of Defendant and a Commission is awarded him to examine & take the Deposition of James Gilkeson de bene epe he giving the Plaintiff legal notice of the time and place of taking the same. [Greenbrier County Order Books, Vol A-C, 1780-1797, Ancestry.com]

15 October 1782 Greenbrier County Court Minutes: William McClung, Plaintiff agst. James Gilkeson and Wm. Fullerton, Defendants. Came the Plaintiff by his Attorney, and thereupon came also a Jury, to wit, Thomas Dinwiddie, Patrick McDavid, Josiah McDowell, Christopher Bryans, William Johnson, Jacob Lockhart, James Rogers, John Wilson, Alexander McNitt, Andrew Woods, William H. Cavendish and Moses Higgenbottom, who being sworn well and truly to enquire of damages in this suit, upon their oaths do say that the Plaintiff hath sustained damages of occasion of the Trespass in the declaration specified to one penny besides his costs. Therefore it is considered by the Court that the Plaintiff recover against the Defendant and Wm. Fullerton security for their appearance in damages aforesaid in form aforesaid assessed and his costs by him about his suit in this behalf expended. And the said Defendanys in Mercy be.

1783: Only two men in the 1783 Sinking Creek neighborhood were taxed for slaves – Joseph McClung (one slave), and Andrew Donnally (nine slaves). In the Muddy Creek community, five men were taxed for slaves – William Feamster (two slaves), William Morris (three slaves), Samuel McClung (two slaves), Thomas Kincaid (one slave), and John Wilson (two slaves). Cattle and horse ownership were much more common and dispersed across the two communities, with Sinking Creek farmers owning between zero and 25 cattle, with a mean of seven cows, and zero to 20 horses, with a mean of seven horses. The larger horse owners in Sinking Creek included Andrew Donnally (15), James Donnally (20), John Flinn (15), James Hughart (18), Joseph McClung (20), Thomas McClung (13), James McCoy Jr (13), William McCoy (15), and John Patton (11). The larger cattle owners included most of these same men plus William Cavendish (15) and William Fullerton (12). Muddy Creek farmers owned a similar range of zero to 24 cattle and zero to 20 horses, with a mean of five cattle and six horses. The larger horse owners were James Jarrett (13), Michael Keeny (14), Thomas Keeny (10), Samuel McClung (20), and James Patterson (10). Large cattle owners included most of these same men plus William Hamilton (22), Martin Keyser (24), Peter Shoemaker (13), John Viney (16), William Morris (12), Thomas Carraway (12), Richard Humphries (15), and Conrad Yocum (22). West Virginia Culture website

21 May 1783 - Greenbrier Court Orders - William Fullerton, Plaintiff Agst. Thomas McClung, Defendant; In Case. Came the parties by their attorneys and thereupon came also a Jury. To wit James Byrnside, Patrick Lockhart, David May, Levi Lockhart, William Clendenin, Robert Clendenin, Spencer Coooper, Thomas Edgar, James Ward, George Andrew Hamilton and Christopher Brian, who being sworn well and freely to inquire of damages in this suit upon their oaths do say that the Plaintiff hath sustained damages by occasion of the Defendant's breech of promise and assumption in the declaration mentioned specified to Two Pounds six shillings and three pence besides his own by him about his suit in this behalf expended, Whereupon the defendant that the Court oughtnot to proceed to Judgement on the verdict aforesaid for the following reasons and because the Court will advise thereupon day is given the parties until the next Court. [Greenbrier County Order Books, Vol A-C, 1780-1797, Ancestry.com]